Strategy 1: Develop a network of learning and support centers for faculty
Develop a network of learning and support centers both physical and virtual, that inspires users to embrace and apply technologies that enhance teaching, learning, productivity, and collaboration.
The Rationale for this Strategy
In order to build a future at UNM in which dynamic learning communities exist, an organizational infrastructure must be in place to encourage and train faculty, students, and staff to incorporate an array of instructional technologies into instruction and work activities. There is a strong necessity to be proactive in implementation of instructional pedagogies that take advantage of digital content and delivery. This digital pedagogy is inclusive of such concepts as digital tools, digital projects, digital design, digital production, digital thinking and digital practice.The concept of digital pedagogy includes not only the skill to use information technologies but also the requisite skills to decode, contextualize and analytically evaluate this information.
The changing role of education from traditional classroom lecture toward content delivered and available anyplace and anytime has brought new perspectives on the role of education and the place of new digital pedagogies. These new digital pedagogies must take issues of access and digital literacy into account when designing programs that use any sophisticated digital media. These environmental factors include the extent to which users of digital learning networks have significant training or experience in the use of all technologies of information access and the extent to which these networks offer inclusive, accessible educational space. Establishing learning support centers to facilitate inclusion of technology into curriculum is necessary for both faculty and student learning. There is great promise and great opportunity in implementing this strategy along with real challenges. UNM needs to meet these challenges.
Link to UNM's Mission and EVP's Areas of Strategic Focus
- The University moves forward in its academic programs, student support services, and other operations by encouraging and rewarding creativity and initiative among faculty, staff, and students.
- At the University, we value excellence in our people, in our programs, in our facilities. We have a responsibility to encourage and develop excellence among our faculty, staff and students. We are committed to be leaders.
- We have a clear obligation to provide a quality higher education to all New Mexico students who have the capability to succeed. This obligation is combined with the responsibility to provide an environment and appropriate support to give every individual his or her best chance of success.
Definition of Success
Conditions Necessary to Achieve Success
Potential change blockers:
- Individual units who have different reporting structures and different organization missions but do similar types of activities.
- Reallocation of resources may be necessary to create learning centers– it all seems good until it is “my” resources that are under reallocation consideration.
- EVP buy-in to support the development of learning centers.
- Some users are often reluctant to venture into unknown territory, resistance to change.
- New space and/or reassignment of space for centers could hinder implementation and progress.
- Faculty buy-in and support is needed. Faculty incentives may be necessary to get some faculty moving/participating.
Potential change levers (helpers):
- Faculty - many faculty are interested and already using technology and desire more support and training.
- External levers:
- Local business (Vendors) – donations of technology (test bed).
- Local government
- Tribes
- Labs (LANL, Sandia, AFRL)
- Other colleges and universities
- Alumni
- ASUNM/GPSA - Students see the value and are familiar/users of the technology perhaps students would be willing to financially support such an organization.
- Political landscape – is there a window of opportunity open to facilitate implementation of this strategy? It appears so.
Strategy Owner
David Sanchez (Extended University Ext Univ)
Strategy Implementation Team Members
Mark Emmons (University Libraries)
Joseph Francis Quintero (ITS Computing Services)
Jonathan Tregear (HS Library and Informatics Ctr)
Deborah K LaPointe ()
Debby Knotts (Extended University Ext Univ)
Carolyn Wood (Educ Leadership Orgn Learning ELOL)
Mark Harty (ITS Computing Services)
Steven Campbell (KNME Operations)
Strategic Initiatives
| Initiative | Description | Owner | |
| 1A | Environmental Scan | Develop and propose a model for learning resource environments, both appropriately located physical centers and online/virtual environments, based on environmental scan research that meets UNM learning resource serivice needs (determined from, UNM needs assessment analysis) and identifies and integr... | Jonathan Tregear (HS Library and Informatics Ctr) |
| 1B | Incorporate technology into learning environments | This initiative includes developing a systematic and logical approach to incorporating technology into classrooms and learning environments. This includes technology evaluations, assessment, baseline classroom standards, organizational efficiencies. This includes identifying and documenting cu... | David Sanchez (Extended University Ext Univ) |
| 1C | Obtain Resource Commitment | Obtain commitments necessary to support the establishment of learning centers from UNM leadership, financial and constituent groups.... | David Sanchez (Extended University Ext Univ) |
Measures of Success
- Retention rates increase
- Student withdrawal from UNM is largely due to failing academically
- Instructional technology can help measure student learning
- Student withdrawal also comes from the inability of students to connect with and build personal relationships with others in the UNM community. IT can provide avenues for relationships to grow.
- Graduation rates increase
- Student life is extremely busy particularly with the extensive adult student population at UNM. Access to libraries, computers, course materials, etc. from outside of UNM will provide additional avenues for success.
- Technology enabled classrooms are full and utilized
- Measure student involvement
- Faculty acquire the skills to know how to use the technologies (this needs to be done regardless of if Learning Center gets completed).
- Numbers/utilization statistics. Number of faculty trained.
- Faculty usage of technology increases
- More faculty are incorporating technology into courses
- Students acquire technology and information literacy
- Develop student survey on technology use, particularly focusing on non-traditional and distance education students to identify training needs/gaps. Number of students participating in training.
- Financial measures
- Political measures